Styling Iron Companion to Guide Hair and Apply Heat Treatment

ABSTRACT

Hair styling irons often require 2 hands just to manage the iron and the Hair. The Styling Iron Companion accessory can be attached to nearly any iron (curing, crimping, straightening, waving) to act as a hair guide, freeing up both hands to manage the iron itself or other styling aids. After slipping the selected hair into the Iron Extension, it guides the hair into the iron without requiring extra hands. Additionally, before styling hair, it is recommended that a heat treatment product be applied to the hair. The Styling Iron Companion with the Heat Treatment add-on can apply a heat treatment product directly to the hair before entering the styling iron.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

BACKGOUND TO THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to various forms of hair styling irons and their deficiencies in ease of use and fatigue and damage to hair. Many irons such and straighteners and crimpers are designed to have the length of the hair flow through the iron section to be heat treated. Especially with long hair, this task can be difficult and tedious as the hair wanders from the iron. Generally a second hand is required to guide the hair while the first hard is fatigued being the only hand supporting the iron the entire time. Additionally, it is recommended that a heat treatment be applied to hair before it is exposed to the heat of the iron.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Invention generally relates to various forms of accessories that can be added to a hair styling iron in order to help guide the hair into the iron without the assistance of an extra hand. These accessories are more specifically designed help apply a heat treatment before hair is exposed to a heat source. Additionally, these accessories can spread the hair out in a wide blade-like form before entering the iron for crimping or straightening.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows various projection views of one embodiment of the Styling Iron Companion (101). 102 shows a snap plastic fastener pad used to secure the Iron Companion to the styling iron. 103 shows the area where hair will be guided. 104 is a family mold piece that is used to add spring to the clipping action of the hair insertion guide (105).

FIG. 2 shows various projection views of one embodiment of the Styling Iron Companion (202) as used with a hair crimping iron(201). It is shown attached to the iron with a plastic fastener pad and shows how it will guide the hair into the iron about 2 inches in front of the iron itself through guide loop 204.

FIG. 3 shows various projection views of one embodiment of the Styling Iron Companion (302) as used with a hair straightening iron (301). It is shown attached to the iron with a plastic fastener pad (303) and shows how it will guide the hair into the iron about 2 inches in front of the iron itself through guide area 304.

FIG. 4 shows various project views of an attachment (401) for the Styling Iron Companion which aids in the application of the a heat treatment product. 402 is a spongy applicator that can receive then apply a heat treatment product to the hair. 403 is a clipping feature used to attach to the styling iron. 404 is an extension of the hair guide area (105) to assist in capturing the hair into the Iron Companion.

FIG. 5 shows various project views of the heat treatment attachment and how it attaches to the Styling Iron Companion. 501 is the Styling Iron companion. 502 is the heat treatment attachment and is slipped into the hair guide area (105). Using the 403 clipping feature, the attachment is held into place in position 503 and thus positions the applicator sponge (504) such that it will apply the heat treatment product to the hair before the hair enters the styling iron.

FIG. 6 shows various project views of the heat treatment attachment and Styling Iron Companion and how it attaches to a straightening iron (602). 601 is the Styling Iron companion with heat treatment attachment. Hair will be guided through the 603 area, then past the 604 applicator area where the heat treatment product will be applied and then finally into the heated iron area (605).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT

In the above patent application a hair-styling iron accessory is disclosed. This accessory or Companion is designed to help guide the hair into the iron as it is moved away from the head. The extension must easily allow the user to clip in the hair group that is desired to go through the iron. Then it must guide the hair into the iron as the iron is moved away from the head. This guide is helpful by eliminating the need to use a second hand to continue to guide the hair into the iron. Additionally, the accessory aids in the application of a heat treatment product to help protect the hair from being damaged by the heat.

As shown in FIG. 1, 105 refers to a smooth guided inlet for inserting a section of hair into the clip. 104 indicates a spring loading sweep to allow the hair into the clip and then to close behind to keep the hair in the guide. The clip is positioned down into the plane of the iron by the extension arm. This arm is securely attached to the iron using a plastic fastener (similar to a hook and loop fastener) 102. Once inserted into the Iron Companion, the hair is guided through section 103 and guided into the iron.

As seen in FIG. 2, an Iron Companion (202) is attached to a crimping iron (201). The attachment can be an adhesive pad, or as in the preferred embodiment, by two hook and loop style temporary attachment pads as indicated by 203. The hair can be guided into the clip while the iron is in the open position as shown in 204. Once the iron is closed onto the hair, the extension will guide the hair into the iron via the channel as indicated by 204.

In addition to the styling features of the Iron Companion, a disposable heat treatment applicator can be affixed to the Iron Companion. 401 shows the area which will slip into the Iron Companion. 402 is a spongy applicator pad that can be filled with a heat treatment product to be applied to the hair before being exposed to the heat. 403 is a clip area which will allow the attachment to be temporarily slipped to the Iron Companion. This is a disposable applicator. 404 shows an extension of the hair insertion guide that is part of the Iron Companion.

FIG. 5 shows a heat treatment attachment being inserted into the iron side of the Iron Companion. It is then pressed onto the Iron Companion such that the applicator sponge 504 will apply a heat treatment product to the hair after passing through the Iron Companion 503, over the 504 applicator pad and before entering the iron. As can be seen in FIG. 6, hair will pass into the Iron Companion at position 603. As the iron is moved away from the head, the hair from section 603 will flow over applicator area 604 where a heat treatment product will be applied. Lastly, the hair will be guided into the iron for styling at area 605. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair-styling Iron accessory, comprising: a hair guide; an extension arm; and an attachment method to an existing hair-styling iron, wherein the hair guide is extended in front of the hair-styling iron such that hair may be directed into the accessory and guided into the hair-styling iron
 2. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the attachment method using an adhesive pad between the accessory and the hair-styling iron
 3. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the attachment method using a plastic fastener (like hook and loop) adhesive pad on the accessory and on the hair-styling iron and then snapping them together.
 4. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the attachment method is sliding the accessory onto the hair-styling iron
 5. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the guide can be a clip formed by adding a family-molded sweep to create a spring tension to retain the hair in the guide
 6. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the accessory is formed from a thermally-stable plastic material to prevent melting.
 7. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the extension arm translates the hair guide to have an offset from the attachment plane so that the hair is guided into the hair-styling iron between the heat plates.
 8. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the extension arm translates the hair guide to have an offset from the attachment position on the hair styling iron so that the attachment can be further away from the heat plates.
 9. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein the extension arm and attachment plate may be smaller to accommodate a travel iron
 10. The hair-styling iron accessory of claim 1, wherein an attachment is added to the accessory to apply a heat treatment product to the hair
 11. The hair-styling iron accessory attachment of claim 10, wherein the attachment has a sponge to absorb the heat treatment product
 12. The hair-styling iron accessory attachment of claim 10, wherein the attachment sponge rubs the hair before entering the iron heat plates applying the heat treatment product to the hair
 13. The hair-styling iron accessory attachment of claim 10, wherein the attachment is disposable
 14. The hair-styling iron accessory attachment of claim 10, wherein the attachment sponge is similarly wide to the opening in the accessory so that all of the hair is exposed to the heat treatment.
 15. A hair-styling iron feature, comprising; a hair guide; and an extension arm, wherein hair guide is extended in front of the hair-styling iron such that hair may be guided into the feature and guided into the hair-styling iron
 16. The hair-styling iron feature of claim 15, wherein the guide can be a clip formed by adding a family-molded sweep to create a spring tension to retain the hair in the guide
 17. The hair-styling iron feature of claim 15, wherein the extension arm translates the hair clip to have an offset from the handle plane so that the hair is guided into the hair-styling iron between the heat plates.
 18. The hair-styling iron feature of claim 15, wherein an attachment is added to apply a heat treatment product to the hair
 19. The hair-styling iron feature attachment of claim 18, wherein the attachment has a sponge to absorb the heat treatment product
 20. The hair-styling iron feature attachment of claim 18, wherein the attachment sponge rubs the hair before entering the iron heat plates applying the heat treatment product to the hair
 21. The hair-styling iron feature attachment of claim 18, wherein the attachment is disposable
 22. The hair-styling iron feature attachment of claim 18, wherein the attachment sponge is similarly wide to the opening in the accessory so that all of the hair is exposed to the heat treatment. 